Like many fathers around town, Robinson spent much of the evening deciphering instruction sheets as he put together Christmas gifts for his little ones. That can be more difficult than life on the island that NFL cornerbacks call home on Sundays.

In the morning, the six-year Texans veteran donated $25,000 to the Texans YMCA. In the afternoon, he surprised two financially struggling families with $5,000 gifts.

“Man, it was a beautiful day,” Robinson said. “It is such a privilege to be able to help in the community. It's an honor to be able to give someone something just to make things better for them. It's a blessing.”

The YMCA donation is interesting in that it is the amount Robinson was fined by the Texans for his “Pay me Rick” shoe blunder at the season opener. The team allowed Robinson to designate the payment to a specific cause.

Robinson, who, like many Texans, is involved in several charitable events during the year, isn't trying to rebuild his reputation. He didn't even want this publicity.

That says something about him, considering the general disfavor he has received of late.

Like a comic book hero turned villain, Robinson went from being the heart and soul of the Texans, an unquestioned fan favorite, to being a favorite sports-talk radio target.

There might not be an athlete in Houston who is characterized and criticized more unfairly by media and some fans than Robinson.

Athletes catch the flak

Let a few loudmouths tell it, and you would think Robinson is one of the worst players on the team instead of one of its best.

That is what you get when a contract negotiation becomes the talk of the town. When Robinson and the Texans were unable to come to terms last offseason, the team went against an earlier plan and placed a franchise tag on Robinson, meaning he would have to play this season under a one-year deal.

Understandably unhappy, Robinson didn't sign the contract until just before the season began.

As is most often the case when a player and team disagree on compensation, the player drew the most criticism.

See, athletes are supposed to be willing to play for nothing. After all, benevolent billionaire owners are in the business only because they love the game.

So throughout the season, Robinson has drawn fire for every missed tackle, every pass completion he has allowed and every interception he didn't get.

Robinson doesn't complain about the disparagement. He knows that in part he brought this on himself.

“It was my mistake,” Robinson said. “There was a lot going on in the negotiations. There was a lot of emotion involved, and I took some things personal that I probably shouldn't have.

“If I had it to do all over again, I would handle it differently.”

He hasn't had a monster season — he doesn't have an interception — but he has been very good. Robinson's play has set the tone for a Texans secondary that has allowed only one wide receiver (Chad Ochocinco) to top the 100-yard mark this season.

A statistically fine year

The Texans put Robinson on a receiver, typically the opponents' No. 1 wideout, one-on-one about 90 percent of the time. Most of those receivers have done little damage against Robinson. Ochocinco slipped past him for a 50-yard catch, which Texans coaches say is the lone deep ball completed against Robinson this season.

You can count on one hand the number of touchdowns caught over Robinson this season.

“If you look at every receiver that lined up in front of me, I guarantee they haven't had the day they thought they would have or wanted to have coming in,” Robinson said. “I don't get too many passes thrown my way, and I'm taking a top guy all over the field.

“Most people want interceptions, that's what fans want, and I understand that. I'd like to have five or six picks right now, too. But if you can hold a receiver to three or four catches, you've done your job.”

That is what Robinson has done this season, while remaining one of the top tacklers on the team.

A free agent at the end of the season, Robinson will again look for the security of a long-term contract. Somewhat surprisingly, he hopes that comes from the Texans.

“I would definitely like to be here,” he said. “We're so close to accomplishing our ultimate goal.

“I love the city, and I love my teammates. I want to be here when we finally get over the hump. And I feel it coming.”